LOUGHBOROUGH University student Laura Samuel admitted she had mixed emotions after she retained her triple jump crown at the Sainsbury’s British Indoor Championships on Sunday.

Samuel took gold with a personal best jump of 13.66m at Sheffield’s EIS arena but also racked up five no-jumps in the process.

The 23-year-old looked comfortable in the end as she saw off the challenge of Zainab Ceesay who was second with 13.12m and Zara Asante who took bronze with 13.00m

It is set to be a busy 2015 for Samuel who now looks ahead to next month’s European Indoor Championships in Prague and, ultimately, the World Championships in Beijing.

And Samuel knows improvements will be needed if she is to make 2015 a year to remember.

“I got the gold medal which is the good thing, and with a personal best as well. But five no jumps out of six is not good, and I’ve not jumped over 14.00m indoors yet,” said Samuel, who was speaking at the event in Sheffield, which sees Sainsbury’s act as the Major Event Series partner of British Athletics.

“To come here and retain my title definitely is a big positive, even if I didn’t jump my best. I can take that into training for the outdoors and hopefully jump bigger.

“I’d like to get over that 14.00m mark again this season and be consistent in getting over it.

“I want to get to the World Champs later this year, as that would be my first senior British vest and would be a big, big deal.”

Samuel wasn’t the only Birchfield Harrier in action on the weekend with Jarryd Dunn running 47.05 seconds to finish second in the men’s 400m while Eden Francis claimed the national title in the shot put with a throw of 16.5m on Saturday.

Francis was in fine early-season form and comfortably saw off the challenge of Shaunagh Brown who took silver with 15.55m and Sophie McKinna who was back in third with 15.15m.

“It was a really shocking performance actually. You’re always happy to get a win under your belt but I’d like to have come away throwing a little bit further than I did,” said Francis.

“I think because I’ve got a lot quicker and stronger over the winter I’m really struggling with staying ,in the circle so I’m trying to conserve a bit of energy in throwing just to try and land a throw.

“Last year wasn’t really about me coming out and throwing big, I spent most of 2013 out due to injury. I spent most of the year in-and-out of hospital so it was just about getting back into the swing of competing. I didn’t start training until the start of April due to two prolapsed discs.

“So this winter has been about working out how to continue training without putting my back under too much strain.”

GUY LEARMONTH admitted he channelled his inner teen as he took his first Sainsbury’s British Indoor Championship title with victory in a dramatic 800m race on Sunday.

In the end there was just 0.12 seconds separating the top three but Learmonth never looked like letting the gold slip out of his grasp as he clocked 1:49.00 minutes to cross the line first at Sheffield’s EIS.

However, the 22-year-old was pushed all the way with second going to Glaswegian James Bowness who was 0.6 seconds back while Mukhtar Mohammed crossed in 1:49.12.

But it was Learmonth who controlled the race to take his first national title and showed the kind of form that saw him qualify for last year’s Commonwealth Games final.

And he says it was simply a case of rolling back the clock to his teenage years and trying to enjoy the race.

“I’ve run hard in training so I thought why not do it in the races. I came out quick and I’m running like I was a teenager,” said Learmonth, who was speaking at the event in Sheffield, which sees Sainsbury’s act as the Major Event Series partner of British Athletics.

“Finally I’ve got this big gold medallion on my neck and it’s been a long time coming. I feel comfortable and it’s nice to run like that and long may it continue.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be British champion. Off the back of the Commonwealth Games last year I think everyone was waiting for that and I produced the goods.

“My aim was just to win. I laid down the gauntlet in the heats and I’ve gone almost a second quicker in the final.

“There’s way more in the legs and I want to try and get a personal best next week at the indoors and I’m very confident I can do that.

“I want to keep bringing my times down and picking up medals and the main focus is Birmingham next week and run the time for Prague, go and do some damage there and get ready for the world championships in Beijing.”

Winner Guy Learmonth of Great Britain poses with his medal after the mens 800m